CHAPTER 12

Servants circled me for a week. I was forbidden to watch TV and go online (I got the phone back, but I still can’t call anyone and honestly, I don’t want to talk to anyone), but I learned from Samira that the whole country is discussing our upcoming wedding and about me there were a lot of rumors. For example, everyone said that I escaped from my country, hiding from the government, that they kept me here forcibly (if they knew how close to the truth) and a bunch of other different stories, because of which Mr. Ali decided that we were going today to the restaurant, after which we will have to communicate with reporters.

– Madame, what do you prefer to wear? – Samira circled over my head, twisting the last strand of hair on curling irons.

– To be honest, I’m fine, – I said as I exhale, casting a glance at myself in the mirror.

Lifeless eyes, small wrinkles in their corners from constant tension, pale, I would say, painful face. This place sucks life out of me.

– You probably worry? Mr. Ali will take you to one of the best places in our country! – In the mirror, I saw how she dreamily patted her eyes, which made me smile.

“Samira,” I caught her eye in the mirror. “Have you ever been outside this house?”

– Of course! Every week I go with Nur, well… this is the main servant of this house, I go with her to the local market, and also … – she unwound my lock, repairing it with varnish – last year I was taken to a neighboring village to the wedding.

– And it’s all? – I turned to face her. She lowered her eyes and nodded. I took her hand, which made her stiffen.

– I’ll take you somewhere as soon as everyone settles down here, okay?

– Oh, what are you, madam! Mr. Ali will not allow this.

– What do I need your master? Will I be a princess? That is… I want to say that this will be my gratitude to you. – She wanted to say something, but I interrupted her. – And I do not accept any objections! Now come on help me choose a dress.

I abruptly got to my feet, which made me dizzy, and I had to grab the edge of the sink so as not to fall.

– Madam, are you all right? – She grabbed my elbow.

– Yes, – I took her hand, – do not worry, everything is fine.

– You look tired, – she led me to the bed and helped me sit down. – I will bring you several options for dresses. – She hid in the closet, and I tried to calm the trembling in the body. Samira came out with dresses on hangers in her hands and carefully laid them next to me. – I chose five different options for you, but … – she took one of the hangers. – But I liked it the most. – She put on a black silk tight-fitting bell dress with large pink flowers.

– Did you really like it? – She nodded her head, delight was read in her eyes. – Then I give it to you.

She looked at me anxiously and shook her head.

– You can not! It is all yours. I can not accept it.

– It’s mine, right? – I got to my feet, and she nodded. – So, I give it to you, and you have no right to refuse it.

She laid the dress aside and rushed to hug me, which took me by surprise.

– You… You are the best… the best! – Tears rolled from her eyes.

– Samira… I don’t want to upset you even more, but… I’m late. – She pulled away and looked at me anxiously, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

– Sorry, madam… I…

– It’s all right, – I looked at the outfits Samira selected, picked up the hanger with a red trouser suit, pulled a simple white T-shirt from the dresser (the prince thought everything through, including the underwear and pantyhose that were in the dresser), and picked up the beige pumps colors. My image was very cute.

– Here’s a clutch bag that fits with the shoes. – Samira handed me a small bag.

– Conservatively, but with taste, and most importantly – conveniently. And quite in my style. I smiled weakly and looked at Samira. – Thank. I don’t know what I would do without your enthusiasm.

She smiled shyly, dropping her eyes to the floor.

– You are the best, and I will do everything to make you comfortable here.

I tried to smile, took off my shoes, picked them up and headed for the door. The weakness in the body was no longer so obvious, but the head continued to spin. My acclimatization seems to have dragged on.

– Madame … – I turned around, laying my palm on the doorknob – our lord… he… is good. – She looked at me uncertainly. – You will understand this as soon as you know it better. Just… give him a chance.

For a moment I thought about her words.

– He may not be a bad person, but his methods suggest the opposite.

I left the room and headed down the empty corridor to the first floor. The fleecy carpet enveloping my bare feet distracted me a little from gloomy thoughts. The main thing is to survive this evening and not forget the legend invented for me. One of the young servants opened the door for me, and I went out onto the porch, where Mr. Ali was already waiting for me. He seemed to be thrilled with something, but only until he saw me.

– You look wonderful! – A slight smile appeared on his face.

– Thank you, – I answered quickly. – Let’s go so that this evening ends soon. – He nodded, continuing to smile, which annoyed me, but I tried to control myself. In the end, I need to get used to this, if only so that I can safely be in his company for more than two minutes.

We went to the restaurant in the same minibus that drove me from the airport, only this time the driver was different, it seems his name was Zakir. The prince sat opposite me, and from time to time I caught his eyes on me, which I could not understand. We were accompanied by two guarded cars, one in front and one in the back. Several guards also accompanied us to a restaurant in which our appearance aroused unprecedented interest and excitement. Of course, none of those present addressed us, here excessive attention to women and people occupying a high position in society is punishable.

– Do not forget, we are a couple in love, so relax and try to enjoy this evening, – the prince whispered in my ear at the entrance to the restaurant, to which I tried to smile, as if he had told me some romantic words.

– I doubt that I will succeed. – I answered with a sweet smile on my face. – It is good that your country does not welcome the public display of feelings.

A girl came up to us and greeted in Arabic, then Ali told her something that made her smile, after which she nodded her head and pointed us to our table. He was at the other end of the room behind a small breadth. Ali took me to my place, unzipped a button on his jacket and sat across from me. A waiter came up to us, greeted us, handed out a menu and informed that he would return as soon as we were ready to place an order.

– Do you have any special eating habits? he asked me as soon as we were left alone.

I thought, looking directly at him.

– I dont know. Perhaps Italian cuisine is closest to me.

– Pizza, pasta, various sauces? – I nodded.

– This is what makes me feel better even on the darkest days. – I returned to studying the menu. Wonderful! They have pasta bolognese.

– Have you had many such days?

– Quite a bit of. – I sighed heavily, prepared to voice my order.

I chose orange juice, vegetable salad and pasta bolognese. Ali also ordered beef tenderloin steak, grilled vegetables and some local drink. While we were waiting for the order, Ali began to get noticeably nervous, looking at my hands lying on the table.

– I understand that all this is strange, but … – he put his hand in the inside pocket of his jacket – two weeks later we have a wedding, and… in modern society, it seems customary that there is an engagement before the wedding. – He took out a black velvet box and handed it to me. – Since our situation is not quite traditional, we will be guided by European standards.

I looked around, and making sure that no one was watching us with trembling hands, she took the box and carefully opened it, not believing my eyes. Elegant white gold ring with a small diamond in the middle. My throat was dry and I could not believe my eyes. Instead of delight and joy, I felt a panic and realized that everything that was happening to me was real.

– I … – I swallowed, trying to level my voice. – Will I have to wear it? Is always?

– Yes. This is another rule. From this moment and all the time that we are married. – I looked in panic at Ali, who hesitantly reached for the box. – If you will…

I handed him a box from which he carefully removed the ring and extended his hand to me. I hesitantly put my hand into her and looked at Ali, who was as excited as I was. He put a ring on my ring finger and covered my hand with his hot soft palm, while piercing me with the look of his dark eyes. I felt heat spreading all over my body, which made me feel uncomfortable. The ring went perfectly. Ali still held my hand in his hands for a while. Fortunately, at that moment they brought us food, and I was able to remove my hand, hiding it under the table. I took a big sip of juice to calm my nerves and looked around again. Nobody seems to have noticed anything. Ali started dinner, and I continued to sit, not knowing whether I should eat, because of the excitement I felt nauseous.

– Irina? Why aren’t you eating anything?

– I’m almost not hungry, – I said uncertainly, looking towards the window, behind which there was an endless stream of cars and people hurrying somewhere. – They will photograph us secretly or …?

– No, – he shook his head, chewing vigorously on the food he sent to his mouth a minute ago. – At the exit, we will be waiting for journalists who will ask questions that were given to them in advance.

– That is, they will not ask for anything superfluous? He shook his head.

– Do you want some coffee? – I looked at him suspiciously, noting his ability to quickly change the subject.

– Isn’t that a strong coffee?

– Then you need to eat something, – I raised my eyebrows in surprise. – Over the past few days, you have completely withered. Samira said that you eat very little, but … – he looked straight into my eyes – you did not look worse.

From his remarks, I was embarrassed and looked at the plate with vegetable salad, while he took the fork and attacked the vegetables in my plate, ruthlessly sticking them on the fork.

– What are you doing? I asked in surprise, looking at him.

“Saving vegetables in your plate. They are not to blame for the fact that you do not want to eat them. He said with a serious expression on his face.

“And you decided to become the one who will save them from a painful death in the form of a slow decomposition in a bin?”

– Yes exactly. – I laughed soundlessly, not believing that we really talk about vegetables, when we have much more important topics for conversation.

– So that? Would you let these guys die? They were grown for a better life, long struggled to charge you with strength and vitamins. – He defiantly ate everything that was on his fork.

– Good good! – I could not stop smiling. – Just let’s end this conversation, otherwise someone will think that we are crazy.

– I don’t care what people think of me who don’t know me at all.

– Well, yes… who else but me should know this, I said without a word, lifting my fork. – You know, your food affects me badly, – he frowned, not understanding what I mean. – After I eat it, I constantly want to sleep, and even for my stomach it is too sharp. – I hesitantly looked at a piece of tomato attached to my fork, and then put it in my mouth and began to chew slowly.

– Why haven’t you said this before? – He asked, it seemed to me, annoyed. I swallowed the food and looked at him point blank, not understanding his reaction.

– People in the kitchen, well… that is, your cooks are trying, they are cooking, but will I quibble with them? I do not think that I have a right to it.

– Now this is your home, and you can do whatever you want in it. Change … – he looked around, lowering his voice and leaned towards me across the table, because the people at the neighboring tables began to pay attention to us – to change everything that does not suit you, or all that does not suit you.

– I don’t think I have the right to do this – I started picking on a plate with already chilled pasta.

– Well, we will return to this topic. – I took a deep breath, putting a fork in my mouth with a paste wound around it, which turned out to be very tasty.

A feeling of full satiation came to me after I ate pasta, drank juice and a cup of coffee. When I finished eating, I noticed that Ali was looking at me with a smile on his face.

– What? – I asked, meeting his laughing gaze.

– The food affected you well, your complexion brightened up. – I touched my flaming cheeks with my palms, feeling a slight clouding. – Order dessert?

I shook my head.

– I think I’ve already eaten, but I won’t refuse a glass of water.

The prince called the waiter and handed him my request. I drank water slowly, and by the time I needed to portray the future princess of this country, in love with my fiance, I felt surprisingly relaxed and calm.

Ali paid the bill, and we headed to the exit, where the journalists were already waiting for us. Ali smiled encouragingly at me, opened the door in front of me, and we went to the press, which was ready to tear us apart with our questions.

– Good afternoon, Your Highness, is that true? Are you really getting married? – A girl of Slavic appearance in pure Russian asked us a question. Ali had such a smile that no one would dare reproach him for insincerity.

– Yes it’s true. In the very near future I am going to marry the most beautiful girl – he looked at me as if his words were true.

– There are rumors that your bride is forcibly held in the Emirate, how do you comment on this? Ali laughed with a light, laid-back laugh and shook his head.

– Well, you, my friends! We just protect our privacy, so we try not to spread any details, really, dear?

My turn has come. I tried to pull myself together and ignore the many microphones in front of me.

– I hasten to reassure everyone who, for whatever reason, is worried about my presence here. – I swallowed, trying to convincingly squeeze out the following words. – I am here of my own free will. I … – I looked at Ali. – Nobody forced me to say or do anything. Our romance … – I straightened my hair, developing in the wind, trying not to miss the thought – we kept it a secret, and perhaps this would have continued if it were not for our mutual desire to legitimize our relationship, – the following words pierced my heart with millions of fragments – In this regard, I am making an official statement. I… voluntarily renounce the citizenship of my country and accept the citizenship of the emirate of my future husband. – the journalists gasped, and I looked at Ali with false admiration, to which he answered me the same. – My decision was made consciously, and I am not under any pressure.

– Friends, if you have no more questions, we would like to continue our evening. Thanks for attention.

We took one official joint photo, and the security service asked the journalists to leave us, and we quickly climbed into our minibus and drove home. Once in the car, I felt that my hands were numb and my legs were trembling slightly.

– It seems that everything went well, – the prince smiled, and I looked at him in dismay.

– I don’t understand why you need it, – I looked at him point blank.

– I have my own reasons for this. – He turned to the window, making it clear that our conversation was over.